Copyright: Capcom owns the Resident Evil franchise, not me.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find and help me improve.
Summary: The Earth is flourishing, happily. But humans are endangered and on the verge of extinction after the greedy corporation Umbrella knowingly releases a viral plague. Small human civilizations survive including a moving convoy led by the strong Claire Redfield. Her solitary world turns upside down when she meets an infuriating yet mysterious woman named Alice. Claire soon learns about an underground survivor camp through Alice and heads there. However, Claire begins to secretly fear losing K-Mart, who has become her only source of strength over the years.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
Write a Review: http://www.redhope.net/residentevil/review/oneshotform.html
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/
Started: November 11, 2011
Series: One Shot
Copyright: Capcom owns the Resident Evil franchise, not me.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find and help me improve.
Summary: The Earth is flourishing, happily. But humans are endangered and on the verge of extinction after the greedy corporation Umbrella knowingly releases a viral plague. Small human civilizations survive including a moving convoy led by the strong Claire Redfield. Her solitary world turns upside down when she meets an infuriating yet mysterious woman named Alice. Claire soon learns about an underground survivor camp through Alice and heads there. However, Claire begins to secretly fear losing K-Mart, who has become her only source of strength over the years.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
Write a Review: http://www.redhope.net/residentevil/review/oneshotform.html
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/
Started: November 11, 2011
Series: One Shot
Trigon
by Red Hope
Chapter 12
Alice was warmed by the small fire she'd built about thirty minutes ago. She didn't require much to stay comfortable, but she expected Claire here soon and didn't want her cold. Thankfully the fieldstone near the fire had finally dried and left a good sitting spot for later. She climbed to her feet and went to her satchel. She needed to be sure that her things hadn't been taken. Most likely Claire and K-Mart had respected her things and didn't sift through them.
Shortly Claire's arrival was announced by a twig snapping under a heavy footstep. Alice long ago smelled a human scent in the air, but she was taken off guard by K-Mart's presence. She stood up from her spot beside the satchel and instantly her eyes honed in on K-Mart.
Claire put her hands on her hips. "You've got K-Mart this deep into it too so..." Her unfinished words left a challenge between them.
Alice couldn't argue that she'd brought K-Mart into this too, by accident more than anything. She sighed and hoped this wasn't going to undo everything between them. "Alright." She studied K-Mart, who was obviously more open about Alice than Claire right now. "Sit down." She indicated the large fieldstone that could handle both women.
K-Mart easily sat down but noticed it was hard for Claire. She sat cross legged after Claire propped up her left leg and leaned against it.
"What do you want to know first?" Alice posed.
"How about your last name?" K-Mart spoke first.
"K," Claire softly warned.
K-Mart shrugged and evenly argued, "It's just an icebreaker question."
Alice was amused by it and folded her arms. She stood in front of the pair, attention locked on K-Mart. "How about you share yours first unless K-Mart was on your birth certificate."
K-Mart felt her cheeks warm yet gave into the tease anyway. "Dahlia." She didn't expect Alice smirk to suddenly disappear and go more dismal.
Alice hadn't meant to push K-Mart into telling her real name if she wasn't ready to do it. She should have known better because K-Mart saw things at face value.
Claire took control of the conversation and suggested, "Maybe the beginning would be good."
"My name is Alice Abernathy," Alice revealed first. She then squatted down so she was eye level with the younger women. "I worked for Umbrella."
Claire shut her eyes and muttered, "I was afraid of that." She gazed again at Alice and posed, "What did you do at Umbrella?"
Alice rested her elbows on her knees and tackled the next question. "I started there as a simple security guard." She watched both the leader and K-Mart's features as she told them about her past. "I was promoted over the years until I became the head of security... a couple of years before the outbreak."
"The outbreak started in the facility," Claire reminded. "Or so they say."
Alice dipped her head and explained Umbrella's show-like attempts to contain the virus, but it was all a lie.
"Wait," K-Mart cut in, "You're saying Umbrella let it escape?"
"My orders were clear," Alice replied, "I was to return the infected human to his home under the pretense that he was cured of the virus."
"Jesus," K-Mart murmured. She looked at Claire. "I remember that on the news when that guy was returned home... supposedly cured. And that was after those three others that died from the T-pill then came back to life as undead."
Claire looked at her friend. "It was just a ploy so Umbrella could spread the T-virus." She cut her eyes back to Alice. "Did you know he wasn't cured?"
"At the time, no." Alice gritted her teeth after she recalled the Vice President's lies about the customer that'd been supposedly cured by Umbrella's scientists, at no expense to the customer. "He seemed coherent and healthy when I delivered him home."
"But the trouble started days later," K-Mart easily recalled. She'd been glued to the television when news broke out that the virus was spreading through Raccoon City. The virus had broken out only days after the litigation case was brought forward between the People and Umbrella. Those memories were quite clear in K-Mart's mind.
"What happened after that?" Claire urged.
Alice didn't want to retell this part, but she swore she'd confess it to Claire. "Once I learned the Vice President of the facility had lied to me, several of my subordinates, who were loyal to me, helped me lock down the facility. I knew the virus and research were important to Umbrella and assumed only my facility had it."
K-Mart leaned forward some and imagined everything playing out.
"Damn problem was one of my so-called loyal security officers was actually a snitch that was put into place as a spy against me." Alice was clearly angry about this even today. Her face was still clear in Alice's memory. "The snitch reactivated the AI that protected the facility. Once she was reactivated, she started the facility's defenses and knocked us out with nerve gas. Umbrella soldiers arrived shortly after, captured us, and killed us."
"But not you," K-Mart pointed out.
"No." Alice laced her fingers together in the space between her knees. "I was chosen by the Head of Research to be a part of his experiments. Apparently early retirement wasn't in my cards." She noticed Claire bowed her head for a moment while she explained the rest. "I was injected with the T-virus."
"You're infected," Claire stated. There was wariness shining in her eyes.
"Yes." Alice clenched her hands tighter. "But differently than the undead." Yet her words hadn't assured Claire. "My blood bonded with the T-virus."
"Now that's pretty cool," K-Mart stated. She was nudged by Claire which made her sigh. She seriously asked, "Can we get infected from your blood?"
"I don't think so." Alice could sense it wasn't a great answer for Claire. But it would have do for now. She wasn't a scientist and didn't know everything about her blood. "During the experiments, I was in and out of it, but I was still in Raccoon City until they moved me before it was nuked."
"There's a facility in Detroit," K-Mart recalled aloud. Her guess was good because Alice nodded at her.
"I was moved there and that's when I really gained consciousness and my memory back... just not control."
"What you mean?" Claire didn't like the sound of it. She carefully watched Alice, who stood up and went to her pack.
"I was put through intense training and tests by Doctor Isaacs." Alice was searching her satchel for something. "I was trained to use my new found powers."
K-Mart exchanged a worried glance with her friend but noticed Alice had whatever she was looking for in the leather satchel.
"I was their prized project." Alice closed up the satchel. "I was their best killer too." She tossed a black ring at K-Mart then another at Claire. "And I couldn't do anything about it for several months."
K-Mart easily caught the item and turned the ring through her hands. The damn thing was so familiar to her, and she kept trying to place it.
"What is this?" Claire tilted the long but thick ring until the firelight caught the Umbrella logo embossed on the outside of it.
"It's a NIM... neural interface machine," Alice revealed. "It was mine."
Claire nearly dropped the wrist guard style device that had once controlled Alice's mind and body. She instantly looked up and saw how serious Alice was about it.
"I've seen this before." K-Mart held up the device and found both Claire and Alice staring at her. "It was a little different." She looked at Alice and asked, "It goes around the wearer's wrists?"
"Yes."
K-Mart nodded after it came back to her. "That undead that Chase shot and fell onto the Hummer's hood... in Williamsport." She turned her stare to the leader. "That undead was wearing a set."
Alice went over to the pair and knelt down in front of them. "K-Mart is right." Her worried look shifted to Claire. "The undead that have been attacking the convoy... they're been directly controlled by Umbrella." She took the device from Claire and held it up. "I haven't seen these on undead before... until now."
K-Mart was still studying the interesting device and whispered, "How did you get free from it?" She lifted her head.
Alice was holding Claire's eyes, but she finally tore her gaze away and replied, "My telekinesis became stronger than the device. I was able to destroy it and remove them."
K-Mart let out a soft breath after Alice admitted to having telekinesis, which explained how Alice sent that Iron Maiden flying through the air on the bridge. "You escaped from Umbrella after that," she murmured and caught Alice's head dip in agreement.
Claire held out the device to Alice and stated, "You've been tailing the convoy this whole time."
Alice accepted the neural interface machine from Claire and K-Mart. She cupped them in her right hand. "Yes, I spotted the NIMs on the undead at that rest stop." She set the device down on the ground. "I wasn't sure if the convoy would be attacked more. I was hoping it was just bad luck on your part, but it wasn't."
"What is it then?" Claire wasn't sure she wanted Alice's opinion on the situation.
"It's training."
Claire furrowed her eyebrows and tried understanding what it meant exactly.
K-Mart removed her hat and hooked it to her left knee. "You mean training for the undead?"
"Yes." Alice was certain of it. "Training and testing for Umbrella's bio organic weapons."
"Okay," Claire sharply cut into it. She was clearly agitated, especially about hearing BOWs again just after Doctor Green mentioned them days ago. And this was more than she expected K-Mart to be confronted by. "You think that Umbrella is purposely sending these things out to practice on us?" She stared in mild shock after Alice nodded. "Why us?"
For once, Alice was openly concerned about the humans that were Umbrella's favorite bullseye lately. "You're just... easy targets." She felt deeply for Claire, who was trying to safely lead the survivors through the countryside. "You're not protected behind walls. You're constantly open and easy to track with satellites."
Claire suddenly sprung up from her seat and walked away from the group. Everything that Alice was saying had her mind racing in several directions.
K-Mart worriedly studied the leader's tense body.
"Your people aren't safe, Claire," Alice finally stated.
Claire shook her head as she faced the outsider. "Where the Hell is safe?" So much anger was written on her face, and it was the only emotion she showed anybody now. "Umbrella will eventually move on."
"At what cost?" Alice fired off. She stood up and hotly asked, "Don't you see what they're doing?" She glanced down at K-Mart, who was at a loss too. She locked her cold stare on Claire. "Do you think all those supplies in the Wal-Mart distribution center were sheer luck?"
Claire jerked her head around at Alice's last words that told her so much more. She quickly came over and hissed, "You were there... in the warehouse."
K-Mart jumped up and moved closer to Claire.
Alice ignored the threat and pressed her point. "That damn L-251 wasn't in there by accident, Claire... it was placed in there to kill your team."
Now the convoy leader was positive that Alice had been there that day and drove one of her kukris into the Licker's head. She hadn't imagined that damn cut in the creature's head that went fairly deep.
"Come on, Claire," K-Mart softly urged. She hoped that Claire would cool off rather than let things blow up. She found furious green eyes on her, and she clung to her ability to talk Claire out of this one. "Alice has been protecting our asses from the start."
But Claire wasn't as convinced and glared, coldly at the outsider. "I'm starting to think she's the reason we're having this problem."
"Claire," K-Mart gently fought. She held her friend at bay.
Claire clenched her jaw but looked down at K-Mart, who was desperately trying to mediate the growing fight. There was no argument that Alice had saved Claire twice now and K-Mart once.
K-Mart shifted between the pair but faced the convoy leader. Her hand remained gently on Claire's stomach. "If Alice hadn't been following us then the convoy would be ruined, and our lifeless bodies would be floating down that river."
Claire swallowed hard and actually took a deep breath that cooled some of her temper. But it still didn't take off the edge under her skin. She didn't like the fact that Alice had been following them this entire time without her knowledge. If Alice could easily do it then it'd be just as simple for Umbrella and the undead.
Alice was inwardly impressed by K-Mart's skill with handling Claire. She lifted her eyes from K-Mart then suggested, "You need to get this convoy to safety." She already saw the blockades building up in Claire's eyes. "You'll get these people killed."
K-Mart turned her head sidelong, and a tremble rippled down her spine at the thought of the undead attacks continuing on the convoy. She bit her bottom lip and unknowingly gripped Claire's red vest for comfort. Over the years, it was Claire Redfield that kept K-Mart safe from the undead, and that's all K-Mart had between her and death.
Claire felt her friend's fears, which caused Claire to react protectively over K-Mart. She leveled a dark glare on Alice and snapped, "There is no place safe. We have to stay on the move or we will get killed."
"That underground facility is more than safe," Alice hotly fought.
K-Mart shut her eyes because she already knew Claire's opinion on the underground facility. She clenched the handful of vest tighter and opened her eyes when Claire's cutting voice started.
"And what fucking makes you think that these attacks won't continue once we hide in the underground facility?" Claire locked angry stares with Alice. "We'll be trapped there and that underground facility will become our grave!"
K-Mart pushed on Claire's stomach again and gently ordered, "Come on. We're not getting anywhere with this tonight." She didn't want either of them to fuel the fire. But Alice's approaching step made her hold out her hand at Alice. "Don't," she fairly warned Alice. There was a plea in her eyes.
Alice relented and fisted her hands at her side. K-Mart was right. The conversation was becoming ugly when it was meant to enlighten the convoy leader. But she couldn't understand why Claire refused to listen to her warnings.
K-Mart turned to her friend after she had Alice sedate. "Can we go back to the camp, Claire?" She worded it as a question instead of a demand so that Claire would still feel in control of the situation. She just needed the suggestion to get into Claire's head.
Claire broke her staring fest with Alice and peered down at K-Mart. She considered her friend's request and recognized the apparent concern on K-Mart's face. She gave a soft sigh after she realized how she and Alice were affecting K-Mart. But it was mostly Claire's fault, and she frowned deeply.
K-Mart was relieved after Claire's faint nod. Then her smaller hand was freed from the vest and taken in Claire's warmer one. She hadn't expected that from Claire, but it amazingly calmed her nerves too.
"Let's go," the leader softly agreed with her friend. She briefly glanced at Alice, but she said nothing and drew K-Mart away from Alice.
K-Mart held tightly to her friend's hand and stayed at Claire's side as they quietly left the camp. But K-Mart casted a glance over her shoulder towards Alice. She felt guilty and also wished Alice's attempt had gone better than this. Like Alice, she wanted Claire to go to the underground facility in Reston. But K-Mart suspected Alice would learn that Claire Redfield's decisions were like mountains, completely and utterly unmovable.
K-Mart hung her head once they were out of the camp's firelight. She shifted closer to Claire because she didn't want to lose track of the leader.
Claire had on her LED flashlight after brushing her fingertips over her Beretta just to make sure it was ready. She squeezed K-Mart's hand a little tighter and felt assured by K-Mart's unwavering presence. Each step that took her further from Alice's camp made her calm down more. Why had she reacted so poorly to Alice following them? Claire just hated being caught off guard and that was all Alice did with her.
K-Mart caught sight of the convoy's camp just ahead. She then spotted the low red light from a perimeter camera. She hesitated until Claire safely led her past the rotating camera. Like earlier, K-Mart learned how it was possible to get around the perimeter cameras and filed it away in her head.
Claire entered the camp behind the M35 cargo truck. She paused and scanned the camp grounds but nobody was moving at this hour. She looked at K-Mart, who was quite weary and that annoyed Claire that she had K-Mart up so late. Sleep was a rare luxury, and Claire didn't like squandering it when it came to K-Mart.
Quickly the pair slipped across the camp and made it to the pickup truck without disturbing anybody. Claire clicked the unlock button once then opened the rear door for K-Mart. After K-Mart hopped in, she carefully slammed the door then got into the front of the truck. She reset the locks then prepared for bed.
K-Mart changed shirts and put on a comfortable teeshirt. She changed into her fleece buttons that would keep her warm tonight. She noted that Claire didn't seem interested in changing into anything else. Most likely Claire would be staying up, restless, and lost on what to do now.
Claire had placed one Beretta Cougar on the dash after she scooted down to the passenger side door in the front seat. She removed her hat and set it next to the handgun. But then she just sat there and stared out the front window.
K-Mart had adjusted her pillow that Alice had been resting on earlier this evening. She hesitated from laying down because of Claire's upright position. She inwardly sighed and knew a lot was now on Claire's mind. After some internal struggle, K-Mart shifted down the bench seat until she was behind Claire. Cautiously, she brought her arms across Claire's upper chest and rested her cheek against fiery red hair.
Claire shut her eyes and soaked in K-Mart's concern and affection. But it didn't still her worried thoughts that were in every direction. She slowly opened her eyes after a minute then reached up and hooked K-Mart's outer arm. It took a lot of courage for Claire to voice what kept running through her head the most.
"Maybe she'll be gone tomorrow." Nothing in Claire's words felt angry or bitter. Instead uncertainty and perhaps remorse were under them.
K-Mart was the one to close her eyes after Claire spoke her concern. A rare glimpse past Claire's steel plated skin gave K-Mart so much information. Somehow Alice had become important to Claire despite their constant differences. That should have made K-Mart jealous and even threatened, but instead it caused a hopeful smile. Slowly though that smile melted away once her mind went back to her friend's worry.
"She's not going to leave us," K-Mart whispered. The certainty that'd been lost in Claire's voice was utterly solid in K-Mart's deceleration.
Claire flexed her gentle grip on K-Mart's forearm. She wanted to believe K-Mart and reminded, "I just threw everything in her face, K." Years of mounted anger that had started even before the apocalypse, now began damaging any level ground she'd tried bridging with Alice.
K-Mart bit her bottom lip and carefully thought about her response after she considered Alice. She lifted her head off Claire's then brushed her lips gently over the crescent of exposed ear. She huskily murmured, "You could always apologize."
Claire trembled, visibly. The next breath hitched in her throat, but she held down a whimper after moist lips left her ear. Another shudder ran down her spine after K-Mart's whisper replayed in her head. But this time K-Mart's suggestion had been the cause to react and formed a heavy stone in Claire's gut.
K-Mart straightened up slightly and canted her head away from Claire's. She had a better view of Claire's taut profile in the moonlight. She ran her thumb over Claire's collarbone while she spoke what she honestly believed was best. "If these attacks continue then you and Alice working together is the convoy's best chance."
It was K-Mart's best chance, Claire silently added. She leaned her head back against K-Mart's shoulder and seriously listened to K-Mart's advice. Indeed Alice understood Umbrella, the undead, and had strength or powers that could protect them. Claire just had to let down enough guard to work with Alice, but only if Alice quit pissing Claire off all the damn time. Claire wasn't use to being challenged so often and if it happened then she snubbed out sparks before they became fires. But Alice Abernathy was a walking fire, in Claire's mind.
"You're right," Claire uttered in a heavy tone.
K-Mart leaned her brow against Claire's head and was relieved that she reached Claire this time. Her pounding heart settled down and helped her think again. She squeezed Claire's shoulders gently then lifted her head.
"Alice is..." Claire didn't think she could explain it to K-Mart. How could her friend understand Claire's emotions that were so well buried?
But K-Mart was studying the leader's features and read deep into Claire's tone. She swallowed after she realized the road block that made it so difficult for Claire to work with Alice. She ruefully smiled and continued soothingly rubbing the warm skin under her thumb. She was thanking God that she understood Claire well enough.
"I can talk to her," K-Mart carefully insisted.
Claire slightly bowed her head after her friend's offer. There was no doubt in Claire's mind that K-Mart saw exactly what was causing the war between Claire and Alice. Now K-Mart was asking for Claire's trust and confidence to resolve it, for all of them. At first, Claire wasn't sure how she felt giving K-Mart her blessing to speak to Alice about what made Claire tick. If Alice held that knowledge then would Alice take it to her advantage, at any time?
K-Mart was watching the conflict going on in Claire. She quickly analyzed it and assured, "She cares about us, Claire." She slightly faltered but amusingly added, "She just has a... funny way of showing it." She caught the weak grin shaping Claire's full lips.
After the grin slipped, Claire took a deep breath and whispered, "I know." And it was true because Claire had seen it by how Alice fought for them, especially today.
"She'll listen to me," K-Mart promised.
Claire bit the inside of her mouth then agreed, "Yes... she would." For the first time since the start of their conversation, she slightly turned her head to K-Mart and struggled to say, "She... does like you."
K-Mart wasn't sure what to make of Claire's opinion, but she couldn't dwell on it right now. She instead waited for Claire to choose what would happen.
Claire slowly turned her head forward and stared out the front window again. What kept going through her head was losing K-Mart to the undead and Alice walking away simply because Claire kept her silence. She let out a low breath then clenched K-Mart's arm that she still held since the start. "Talk to her, K."
K-Mart was washed with relief and hoarsely swore, "I will."
Claire shivered slightly but K-Mart's kiss to her temple ebbed the gentle rise of emotion in her chest. She regained control despite what it meant once K-Mart spoke to Alice. She patted her friend's arm and murmured, "Get some sleep, K." She turned her head towards K-Mart. "It's really late."
"I know." K-Mart squeezed the leader's shoulder then withdrew. She wouldn't tell Claire to sleep, but she hoped for it. Instead she shifted under the covers after wishing Claire goodnight. She passed out rather quickly after today's dramatic events.
Claire remained upright for a couple of hours before she finally became weary. She lowered to the waiting pillow that called her. She drew the blankets off the floor and covered her chilled body that she'd been ignoring. Her last thoughts were a silent thank you to K-Mart. She didn't stir all night until her internal alarm clock wakened her.
K-Mart barely recalled Claire leaving the truck at dawn. She got up two hours later around eight o'clock and wanted to go back to sleep. But she'd made a promise to Claire and planned to do it first thing. K-Mart grumbled while she put on her clothes then finally her hat. She'd deal with the rest, like her hair and teeth, after breakfast. She was definitely not a morning person.
After donning her black leather jacket, K-Mart hopped out of the yellow Ford truck and yawned until the morning chill caused a tremble down her spine. K-Mart zipped her jacket then dug her fisted hands into her pockets. She started in the direction of Otto's catering truck and hoped for something hot today.
Otto happily greeted his favorite customer and started her morning right with steaming oatmeal. He ended up making two bowls after K-Mart explained she was getting some for Alice. Otto made sure the linen napkins were overtop of the steaming food so it'd stay warm. He handed off spoons then traded a smile with K-Mart before she left.
K-Mart was glad there were handles on the bowls because they were so hot. The trip out to Alice's camp didn't take long, especially in the daylight. K-Mart considered whether Alice would be awake or not and decided to just go for it. Once near enough, she smelled wood burning and heard the crackles.
Alice slotted her eyes at the visitor in her camp. She hadn't expected K-Mart of all people. Also the warm smile caught Alice off guard.
"Hey," K-Mart greeted.
Alice tilted her head back at the teen's good nature. "Mornin'." She noted the two bowls in K-Mart's hands.
"Breakfast," K-Mart explained. She made her own invite and sat down beside Alice on the fieldstone. "Did you sleep?"
Alice pursed her lips then answered, "For an hour."
K-Mart paused after setting the bowls down. She hesitantly peered up at the older woman. "An hour?" Concern traced her tone.
"I only need three hours a day," Alice explained.
K-Mart crinkled her nose, which took away years from her age. "I take it a perk of the T-virus."
Alice's shoulders rolled in response. She didn't see anything as a perk of the T-virus. Any powers or benefits were considered a curse in Alice's book that she was forced to take. Overtime, she learned to hide what the T-virus had done to her, almost. Yesterday had certainly blown her cover, but the price was worth Claire and K-Mart's lives.
K-Mart handed a hot bowl to Alice first. "Not your favorite topic, is it?" She reached behind and extracted two spoons from her rear pocket. She held them out to Alice and after one was left, she grabbed her own bowl from the ground.
"I didn't ask for this," Alice mentioned. She had the linen napkin on her lap and stirred the oatmeal.
K-Mart felt badly for Alice, but she also saw the benefits from the T-virus that Alice probably denied. However, right now wasn't the time to dwell on it since K-Mart had other concerns. She debated how to open up the talk until Alice did it for her.
"So what brought you out here?" Alice tapped the bowl's side with the spoon. "I know you don't serve everybody."
K-Mart grinned at Alice then nodded in honesty. "I just came to talk too."
"Anything particular?" Alice probed.
K-Mart cleared her throat as ideas rolled around in her head. She stirred the oatmeal a few times then finally met Alice's curious gaze. "Claire and I do want you to stay." She wasn't jarred by Alice's smirk.
"Claire didn't seem all that warm and fuzzy about me last night."
K-Mart softly hummed as she wondered how Claire became warm and fuzzy enough to let Alice have sex with her. She put that thought away for later and refocused on the topic at hand. She pointed the spoon's handle at Alice. "You push her buttons." She scooped up more oatmeal.
Alice canted her head, and a grin appeared again. "She has nice buttons, K-Mart."
K-Mart choked on her next spoonful and started coughing after several mental images flashed through K-Mart's head. Oh yeah she had to agree that Claire indeed had nice buttons. But K-Mart learned that pushing them so often was very dangerous business.
Alice frowned after yet again saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. She calmed after K-Mart cleared her throat, but she found watery eyes on her.
For an instant, K-Mart silently traded knowledge with Alice, and it made K-Mart look to the campfire. She cleared her throat one last time then finally replied, "They are nice buttons but..." She lifted an eyebrow at Alice. "You'd get better results with honey than vinegar."
Alice's grin actually softened after K-Mart's honest words hit home. "That is true," she quietly granted then went back to her breakfast. She hadn't heard that saying in a long time.
K-Mart went more serious and a furrow creased her brow. "These attacks..." She looked at Alice again. "They're going to keep going."
Alice nodded despite it wasn't really a question.
"For how long?"
Alice bit her lower lip then stared down at her half eaten food. She finally shook her head and admitted, "I don't know."
"Is there a way to stop it?" K-Mart had hope in her eyes, especially towards Alice. But that prayer was hollowed out by the doubt shining in Alice's eyes. She lowered her head.
"The best bet is the underground facility," Alice reminded.
"Claire will not go there," K-Mart insisted. She looked at the older woman. "I wish she would but..." She dropped her eye contact. "This convoy... these people..." She tapped her spoon in the bowl then hoarsely explained, "This is draining her of life."
Alice parted her lips slightly after she realized what K-Mart was missing about Claire Redfield. But it was understandable after Alice thought about it. K-Mart was just too close to the situation to figure it out. She shook her head then argued, "It gives her life, K-Mart."
K-Mart felt derailed after Alice's words and quickly looked away after she tried grasping how the convoy gave Claire life. It didn't make sense because each new day took a little more out of Claire. Didn't it?
"It's all she has," Alice insisted. "Leading the convoy is what sustains her, each day."
K-Mart had a heavy frown as she stared at the bonfire. But Alice's words were sinking in slowly.
"That's why she doesn't want to go to Reston," Alice explained. "She fears losing the convoy." She then was enlightened after staring at K-Mart's profile so she reached over and gingerly touched the teen's right knee. "She fears losing you to that facility."
"No." K-Mart was shaking her head, vigorously. "I wouldn't leave her." She finally looked at Alice, and the ferocity in her words was clear on her face. "For anything."
Alice slightly leaned away after she measured K-Mart's will. She pursed her lips slightly then asked, "But does Claire know that?"
"Yes," K-Mart insisted.
Yet Alice shook her head, and a small grin played on her lips. "It's one thing to think you know something versus hearing it from the person." She set the empty bowl on the ground near them.
K-Mart slightly opened her mouth but faltered once she realized that she hadn't voiced it to Claire, not once. She naturally assumed Claire knew it because their relationship was different than all the rest in the convoy.
Alice's grin went wider now that she caught K-Mart. "Something to think about," she murmured. She stood up and went over to the campfire that was fading from lack of wood. She had rather thick branches left that'd keep it burning for awhile longer.
K-Mart peered down at her oatmeal, which was nearly gone. She took the last spoonful and used the minute to roll around what Alice pointed out to her. Why hadn't she seen any of this sooner? She berated herself for being blind, especially to Claire's needs. Out of everybody in the convoy, K-Mart was the closest to Claire and did her absolute best to be there for Claire. She owed that much to Claire.
After setting the dirty bowl with the other one, K-Mart looked over at Alice and switched mental gears. She carefully asked, "What you plan to do? Given it any thought?"
Alice was studying the campfire to make sure the heavy branches caught on fire. "I haven't decided... yet." She trailed her eyes over to K-Mart. "Especially since I don't have a truck anymore." She enjoyed the blush growing on the teen's cheeks.
"Sorry about that," K-Mart offered.
Alice huffed but a glow was in her eyes.
K-Mart bowed her head as she figured out how to put her delicate words together. She brushed a blond lock behind her ear and mentioned, "We could use your help." She peered up, nervously. She inwardly tensed at Alice's dark smirk.
"I'm not for hire," Alice joked. Yet there was a touch of unknown resentment in her tone not meant for K-Mart. She squatted down beside the fire but was facing K-Mart.
From Alice's crouched position, K-Mart was reminded of a panther that was stalking and planning an attack. She forced herself not to feel so damn nervous. She had made a promise to Claire. "We really do need your help," she insisted.
"What good will my help be if Claire won't even save them?" Alice honestly posed.
K-Mart sighed and glanced away for a second then back to Alice.
"I can't make the horse drink the water, K-Mart." Alice had done her best to get through to Claire, without any luck. She knew that K-Mart had done so too and had the same results as Alice.
"So... you're just going to walk away and let us slowly be picked off by Umbrella's monsters?" K-Mart held Alice's eyes and so many emotions passed through her.
Alice swallowed hard once she understood how her answer would impact K-Mart, and even Claire. She was standing on the center of a drawn line, and Alice had to choose a side wisely. She needed another minute so she looked at the fire and whispered, "Humans are cruel and weak."
K-Mart struggled not to be offended by the tainted remark. She instead considered what little she knew about Alice. A lot of it made sense considering Alice's ugly past with Umbrella and why Alice now roamed the Earth by herself. It had to be nice to be in denial every day, like Alice.
A heavy sigh escaped K-Mart. She decided to push Alice and posed, "Do you see Claire and I that way?" A long silence made K-Mart wonder if there'd be any answer. She was about to grab the bowls until Alice looked at her, finally.
"No." Alice stood up and crossed the short distance over to K-Mart. She squatted down directly in front of K-Mart and honestly confessed, "That's why I came back... that's why I'm still here."
K-Mart was at perfect eye level with Alice and could see the truth in sky blue eyes. She hadn't realized how blue Alice's eyes were until this moment. They were impossibly blue that didn't seem natural to humans. She struggled not to let herself blush, like normal because she found Alice's eyes quite attractive. She clenched her hand and gently pleaded, "Then stay... help Claire and I."
Alice was obviously still hesitant. "I can help you, K-Mart." She instantly felt K-Mart internally withdrew thanks to her suggestive words. "Claire won't-"
"Yes she will," K-Mart cut off. She couldn't hide the anger hitting her tone. "You just keep pushing her." Her features kept darkening as she spoke. "How else do you expect her to respond?"
Alice clenched her jaw at K-Mart's intensity. There wasn't any argument against K-Mart's point. A few times Alice was able to find common ground with Claire, until she started purposefully agitating Claire. When she met K-Mart's gaze, she saw the defensiveness shining in the teen's eyes. "You're right," she finally admitted.
K-Mart let out a low breath then explained, "Claire wants to work with you."
Alice rolled back on her heels at this news. Now it made sense what was going on and why K-Mart was here this morning. K-Mart was speaking for Claire. There was no way that Claire would have willingly opened herself up for this conversation. But K-Mart could do it for the convoy leader. K-Mart wouldn't be here if Claire hadn't approved first. K-Mart would never go against Claire's wishes. Alice knew she could trust K-Mart's words. She bowed her head and considered what to do now.
K-Mart nibbled on her lower lip and drew on her deep courage. She reached forward, hooked Alice's chin, and lifted until they locked eyes again. "Claire and I need you... and you need Claire and I." The impact her statement had on Alice was evident by how Alice's next breath drewback. K-Mart had pierced Alice's armor so perfectly.
Carefully, Alice took K-Mart's hand into hers and toyed with K-Mart's warm fingers. "Alright," she softly accepted.
"And stop pushing Claire's button," K-Mart hotly warned. She shoved Alice's hand away, but it was playful. Thankfully the tingle in K-Mart's hand faded at that point.
Alice allowed the tension to recede between them. She dropped her arm to her thigh then smirked. "What about your buttons?"
"I don't have any," K-Mart proudly stated. But she nor Alice believed it. K-Mart collected the dirty dishes and linen napkins. She stood up but was quickly outmatched by Alice's taller form.
"I have to pick on somebody," Alice complained.
K-Mart huffed because she believed it too. She took a few steps to her left and happily selected a sacrifice for Alice. "Carlos is open season then." She enjoyed Alice's evil smirk then realized what she made of done. Oh damn, K-Mart cringed.
Alice chuckled at the teen's worried look. She wouldn't promise that she'd be nice to Carlos like she would be to Claire.
K-Mart just shook her head and started out of the camp. She was positive that Claire was waiting on her. But an odd thought came to mind now that she and Alice would be getting to know each other, real quick. She turned on her heels and mentioned, "By the way..."
Alice folded her arms and curiously studied the young woman.
"My full name is Elizabeth Dahlia Case." K-Mart didn't expect Alice's grin and nearly blushed from it. She was proud of herself for holding it down this time. She spun on her boots before she gave away anything and called, "See ya in the truck." Then she was gone. What she missed was Alice's rather peculiar expression that took place of the grin.
Alice stood there, staring at the spot she last saw K-Mart, and she could still smell K-Mart's scent in the breeze. She softly hummed after learning the teen's full name. She huskily murmured, "See ya soon... Elizabeth."